Haitian Earthquake Relief Funds

Donations are pouring in to bring relief to Haitians injured and left homeless after Tuesday`s earthquake. In the first 24 hours after the disaster the Canadian Red Cross collected $1 million, says spokeperson Katie Kallio. The Canadian government has also pledged to match funds donated to registered charities until February 12, up to a maximum of $50 million.

The American Red Cross has received $4 million in donations through a program that allows mobile phone users to make instant contributions to the Haitian relief effort, said Jeffrey Nelson of Verizon Wireless. He called the initiative, which allows users to donate $10 by texting "HAITI" to "90999," "the largest outpouring of charitable support by texting in history - by far." Donations will be added to cell phone bills, and some carriers are waiving charges for the sending of the texts.

Beware of Scams when Making Donations

Whenever there is a disaster such as the Haitian earthquake we can expect to see people reaching into their pockets to help the people affected. Unfortunately, we can also expect to see a small number of poorly run charities who mismanage donations, as well as online scams set up by unscrupulous people who just want to line their own pockets.

Online security companies say they generally see this sort of problem in the first few days after a tragic event. Joris Evers of McAfee security software says there are already examples of search engine poisoning, in which results for some search terms relating to the Haitian earthquake are bringing up dangerous web sites. The public should be wary of phishing scams, and of web sites that might try to install malicious code on a computer.

Staying Clear of Scams and Phishing Sites

The best way to stay safe online is to be sure to use the latest version of your preferred browser and to use reliable, up to date software to protect your computer. When donating money to a cause like the Haitian relief effort, it is recommended to give to an experienced organization with a reputation for getting help to those who need it. Please read on for contacts of reliable organizations, and for lists of trusted organizations North Americans may wish to refer to.

Never click on links in unsolicited emails about making donations. Don`t open attachments, or fill in forms found in the messages, and be skeptical of anyone claiming to be a victim or their representative. The best place to see images is on a trusted web site, and the best place to make donations is directly to a reputable charity. Even if a link in an email looks legitimate, it is best to go straight to the charity`s web site and follow their instructions.

Always look for the closed lock or other symbol your browser uses to indicate a secure connection, when making financial transactions. Never reveal passwords or other similar information. Legitimate web sites will only ask for a minimal amount of information. When in doubt, trust your instincts and stay away from a web site.

You can help keep everyone safe by reporting scams to the appropriate authorities - for example the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in the United States, or with Reporting Economic Crime Online in Canada. These two web sites are run by the FBI and the RCMP, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies. If you believe you may have fallen victim to a scam, contact your financial institution right away.

Locating a Reliable Charity

MSNBC has compiled a list of reputable American charities who can deliver relief to the Haitian people. Americans can also find information on helping victims of the earthquake in Haiti from the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI.)

Donations to the American Red Cross can be earmarked for the International Response Fund, or more specifically for Haiti Relief and Development. Americans can use the donation through texting method described above, or visit the website to donate. Alternatively, donations can be made at a local Red Cross,by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish,) or by mail:

American Red Cross
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C.
20013

Canadians can donate to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake fund by calling toll free 1-800-418-1111. Donations can also be made online, or at any local Red Cross office.

To locate a registered charity in Canada please consult this list of experienced humanitarian organizations. You can also get more information by contacting:

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Public Inquiries Service, Communications Branch
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, QC, KIA OG4
Tel: (819) 997-5006 or 1-800-230-6349
Fax: (819) 953-6088
E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca

Sources:

"Beware of bogus online 'help' for Haiti" Suzanne Choney (MSNBC)

"Canadians donating generously to Haitian disaster relief effort says Red Cross" Canadian Press

"How Canadians can help" Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

"Red Cross responds to devastating earthquake in Haiti" Canadian Red Cross